Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-09
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
Interesting Papers Discussed Yes
terday-Dr. Hateher's Address.
10y telegraph 70 tho Dispatch.i

IBy telegraph ~ tho Dispatchl
WAaIyGroy, December 8. The Evan
eelical Alliance Conference to-day de-
voted the morning session to hearing
and discussing a paper upon the "Perils
of the Family" by Rev. S. W. Dixie, of
Auburn Dale, Mass. ono by Colonel D..
l.. Greene, Of Hartford, Conn, upon
"The Serial Vice" and one by Presi-
dent John Eaton, OF Marietta (0hio)
College, OH "llliteracy.
At the afternoon session DIR. McCosh,
president Of Princeton University, read
a paper on "Tbe Church in relation to
the Capital and Labor Question, " which
occupied the entire session with its dis
cussior.
Mrs. Cleveland was in attendance at
the evening session, which was presided
over bv Senator Hawley, of Connecti-
cut. The paper of the evening was by
Rev. James NJ. King, of New York, on
"The Christian Resources Of Our Coun-
try"
Professor Gilman, Of Johns Hopkins
University, spoke upon the Intel
lectual Resources OF the Country, " aud
the subject was discussed by Rev. Will
liam l.. Hatcher, ID. D., of Rich
mond, Va, who said; As the topic
under discussion is " The Christian Re-
sources Of Our Country beg modestly
TO make answer from the watch-tower OF
the South. We have q population OF
/ 1880, 000 of which about II, 900, COS
are white and 6, 800, 600 colored. We have
nearly 1000, 600 Of chureh-members and
5000 900 of Sunday school scholars, and
besides this the bulk Of our people at
tend public worship. Beyond this We
have many cheering and helpful facts II
the religious situation OF the South
These will be briefly mentioned.
]. A strong and peryasive Christian
sentiment. The southern people believe
in the Bible. We have really but two
great classes in the South-the whites
and the negroes. These have their diff
ferences and antagonisms (Which the
Doctor briefly mentioned). but they arc
bound together by a common religious
faith. Infdelity has little hold on the
South, and its new forms, though dis
guised under Christian names, do no
mislead us. We LET people believe what
they choose, but we do not allow then
to lead us away from the old Gospel.
?. We have in the South Christian
homes. The southern home is not thu
lordly palace of the ante bellum, but !
has its Bible. its altar, its praying patrI
arch, its cody mother, and its Christian
melodies. Out of these homes we ar
sending forth well-trained godly son
and daughters to play their part IN tn
regeneration OF society.
3. Our institutions of learning are I'm
der the most distinct Christian influence
To this there may be some exception II
those schools supported by State pa
tronage, but even these are peryaded b,
the dominant Christian sentiment OF on
people and have for the most part Chris
tan teachers. Most of our institution
for higher learning are denomiDational
and are under the management OF on
best Christian leader The bulk of on
youth in these schools is professedl
Christian.
1. Many southern young men are en-
tering the ministry. There never wer
| 81 llduNs AuA W. eAt VI tiAS Wv Va
der. There would be many more bu
for our limited resources for aiding them
g. We have a delightful spirit of Chris
tian fraternity and unity among the sevt
raj evangelical denominations of tn
South. Not that we are striking for an
merely mechanical Christian unior
We stand by our ecclesiastical conviC
tons, and do not wish to be disturbe
on this subject. At the same time "
have few exasperating controversies an
are gradually learning TO touch elbo"
and to keep step to the music OF eac
others bands.
This is bare outline of DR.. Hatcher
speech, his illustrations and picture
being necessarily omitted. The speec
produced a very profound impressio
and was greatly enjoyed.